" Ditch's Stout " Master Class .....

[RugbyAl]

Ditch, I agree; it is closer to Beamish than Guiness. My ref to Guiness was more to do with describing the 'mouthfeel' (god I hate that word!) rather than the taste (is there an equivalent Beamish to the 'Guiness Original...?)

You seriously going to use that stirrer? I have visions of the stirrer remaining stationary in the wort whilst you rotate around it at great speed

Alan

[Ditch]

You seriously going to use that stirrer?

Alan; I've just used it! Came back in here to talk about it somewhere. Get it off my chest. Muvva F**kaa!!!

[spliffy]

How did the plasters paddle work out Ditch?
I've been using mine for a couple of years and most of my brews are completely fermented out in less than 4 days.. Just watch that trigger control. Mxes everything in seconds and more air than an astronauts underwear at liftoff

[Ditch]

How did the plasters paddle work out Ditch?

Fan F**king Tastic, Spliffy! In fact, I believe it was yeself there who finally drove me over the edge to buying one!

If people realised how bloody cheap they are, and how Easy ....? What sort of mug wants to be thrashing about with some stupid bit of plastic?! That was one of the most groan making parts of the prospect of getting on a brew, for me. The trying to pour the dried malt Ever so trickly, whilst my poor, skinny arm screamed in protest as I stirred and thrashed like a man lost in shark infested waters.

Today? Well; See for yeself! Here.

[Wooderson]

I want a Ditch part 2 only it will be a prequel.I want to know the steps he went though to finally perfect his recipe and what went wrong along the way.So over to you Ditch how did you arrive at this recipe and what are your thoughts on previous methods and their results?

[cosmondo]

My 2nd keg is ordered & should be with me soon, so today I'm going to get the keg's 1st brew on for it...Ditch's Stout!

I've got everything I need & have read through this a few times, whilst waiting for a 2nd keg. I'll be sticking with the original thrashing element though, see I'm a traditionalist!!

Don't have a heater element, I'll wrap it up nice & snug though.

Really looking forward to this, it's my 2nd brew - I'll post back with news on how it went.

[spliffy]

Try the plasterers paddle once and tradition will soon be where it belongs. I mean they have been using plastic paddles, plastic buckets, etc, for centuries brewing beer havent they?

[ukmadstu]

just brewed ditches for the first time followed to the letter, should it really taste 'that good' after 7 days in the fv

[cosmondo]

OK, I'm hopefully going to be ready to keg this once I sort out my keg's gas leak.

I know Ditch doesn't prime his keg, but I'm interested if anyone else does & by how much & what with.

Or has Ditch himself, ever tried priming the keg with this?

[Ditch]

Stu'; The speed with which this stuff becomes gorgeous is one of its big attractions

Cosmondo; I don't think I've ever primed my stout. If I had, first time round, I'd have probably continued doing so, in the belief that one simply had to. These days, of course, I don't even use CO2 on my BK's. Because I have trouble getting hold of the stuff and have learned to live without a huge head of eternal foam.

" Ditch's Stout " has always been making these tiny little steps of its own evolution. Like I now chuck in a mug of raw sugar. No earthly reason why ye shouldn't prime or gas yours though.

My only gripe is when people use BKE or bottle theirs, then compare it to what I'm talking about here. Because it just won't be the same. Half the character of this stuff is its smoothness, eg. Can't get that with a bottle. So, feed someone that and say it's what I brew and someone might say they don't like it ~ just as I'm not fond of bottled beer.

I don't worry if someone simply doesn't like the results of following my own methods. It just irks me when someone makes something else, finds they don't like That. Then 'blames' my stuff for not being good when they haven't actually tried the real thing

[PEACOCKSUIT]

Im planning my xmas brews atm. They are going to be: a light hoppy ale, a nice session bitter, and a (strong) stout.
I was going to try and do all 3 using the BIAB method thus crossing over to the dark side .

However Iv heard such rave reviews for the ditch's stout I'm considering this as my stout .

Does it benefit from any additional hopping or anything or is it good as is?

[Ditch]

Does it benefit from any additional hopping or anything or is it good as is?

Let me put it this way, mate; I wouldn't know what " Hoppy " beer tasted like if ye water boarded me with it. But, that said, I've since been told a certain beer I used to love was an extremely hoppy one. Make what ye will of that.

Now, I can't say as I remember anyone ever saying this stout is hoppy. To me, its beauty rests more on it's coffee, chocolate and other tones which are beyond my powers of discernment and description. Hop? Malt? I wouldn't know. I just know when I like a taste.

Anyway, this stuff's so quick to be ready; Why not bang one out according to my own way. Then, tasting that, ye can decide for yeself if something else done to it may better suit ye personal tastes, look

[PEACOCKSUIT]

Decision made! Happy day's .

[cosmondo]

I must say I really love Ditch's "couldn'[censored]" regarding making his brews.

A real eye opener to me, I find that a lot of homebrewers can come across as a wee bit up themselves (at least to me, sometimes, no offense intended) - concerning "proper" method, equipment etc... Probably cos it's kinda related to food, you know those food/wine critics, who describe aromas & bouquets..?
I can understand where this comes from, as it's kinda techie - but as this recipe shows, it doesn't have to be.

I for one am actually more motivated to continue making beer & wine, now that I see that someone like Ditch can continue to make good beer without too much faffing about...saying that I did prime my keg, as I like a bit of head.

[Ditch]

I like a bit of head.

Don't we all, mate? Don't we all?!